RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 17, 2010
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RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners congratulating The Chicago Blackhawks on their 2009-2010 championship season
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WHEREAS, the Chicago Blackhawks started their 2009-2010 championship season with high expectations after reaching the Conference Finals the prior year before falling to their arch enemies, the Detroit Red Wings, but not before leaving their fans convinced they were a team on the rise; and
WHEREAS, unlike many teams with high expectations, the Blackhawks met and exceeded those expectations, finishing the 2009-2010 regular season with the second-best record in the Western Conference; and
WHEREAS, the Blackhawks began their playoff run for the Stanley Cup against the Nashville Predators, an opening series which included a “Miracle on Madison” in Game 5 where Patrick Kane scored a short-handed goal with 13.6 seconds left to tie the game and send it into overtime, with the Blackhawks prevailing thereafter on a Marion Hossa goal; and
WHEREAS, in their second round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks, the Blackhawks displayed their vaunted offensive speed and skill in winning the series in six games, making legendary Canuck goalie Roberto Luongo look like he had sprung a leak; and
WHEREAS, returning to the Western Conference Finals, the Blackhawks pounded the San Jose Sharks, who had the top regular season record in the conference, sweeping the series in four games, leaving most to continue questioning why a hockey franchise exists in a state without winter; and
WHEREAS, the grit and determination of the Blackhawks was epitomized by defenseman Duncan Keith, who despite taking a puck to the mouth in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, chalked it up to a known hazard of the job, spit his fallen teeth out, seven to be precise, stayed in the game, and still had the best smile in town; and
WHEREAS, the Blackhawks rode a wave of momentum into the Stanley Cup Finals and showed a band of tough guys known as the Philadelphia Flyers that in addition to possessing the top skill and speed in the league, the Blackhawks could dish it out as well, as evidenced by the crushing hit Dustin “Big Buff” Byfuglien put on Philly bully Chris Pronger in Game 5; and
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2010, at the 4:06 mark in overtime in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane flung a wrist shot towards Philadelphia Flyers’ goalie Michael Leighton, as time seemingly stood still until all finally realized that the puck was in the net and the Blackhawks’ dream season had become a reality and Chicago had won its first Stanley Cup Championship since 1961; and
WHEREAS, Chairman Rocky Wirtz, President John McDonough, General Manager Stan Bowman, and no nonsense Coach Joel Quenneville, each resurrected a proud franchise by making all the right moves on and off the ice from televising the games, bringing back Blackhawks’ legends Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita back into the fold as ambassadors of the organization, such that the Blackhawks are now a model for other nameless sports franchises facing long championship droughts; and
WHEREAS, the Blackhawks players showed class on and off the ice and truly enjoyed their magnificent run, most exemplified by their wise beyond his years, twenty-two-year-old Captain Jonathan Toews, who seemingly won every face-off and unlike a lot of star players, is not afraid to do the dirty work along the boards; and
WHEREAS, from the traditional pre-game singing of our National Anthem by Jim Cornelison, whose powerful voice is nonetheless rarely ever heard, to announcer Pat Foley’s call of “Kane to Toews to Sharp, he shoots, he scores!!!” to a team with the best jerseys in all of sports, to the “Da, da, dah, da, da, dah, da, da, da, da, da, da…” ringing in our ears after every Blackhawks’ goal, all have combined to make Chicago very proud of its Stanley Cup Champions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, do hereby express our gratitude and appreciation to the Chicago Blackhawks for their incredible season; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Dated: June 17, 2010
Approved: TERRENCE J. O’BRIEN, President; KATHLEEN THERESE MEANY, Vice-President; GLORIA ALITTO MAJEWSKI, Chairman, Committee on Finance; FRANK AVILA; PATRICIA HORTON; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN; CYNTHIA M. SANTOS; DEBRA SHORE; MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Frederick M. Feldman, General Counsel